Cavalier SC host Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi, dubbed the greatest footballer of all time, on Thursday at National Stadium in what could be the biggest game in Jamaica for decades since Pele played in 1971.

The National Stadium’s running track has been resurfaced in the colours of the Jamaican national flag, which will bring a new level of pride to a nation and Cavalier SC.

But with the venue with a capacity of 35,000 reportedly sold out, fans will be disappointed if Messi doesn’t play and even feel cheated as the tickets went fast with the prospect of Messi coming to Jamaica.

Inter Miami is scheduled to arrive in Jamaica on Wednesday evening for Thursday’s game leading 2-0 from the first leg in Fort Lauderdale, and the nation is holding its breath, waiting anxiously to hear whether Messi has made the trip.

Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald speaking to Andre Fernandez on their latest episode of “Inside Inter Miami” pointed out that she is not sure if Messi will play having missed Inter Miami’s last three games with what coach Javier Mascherano described as “muscle fatigue”.

“I think it’s really semantics of what people consider an injury versus what people consider a muscle strain, muscle fatigue. He calls it muscle fatigue. To me, a muscle fatigue is a muscle strain,” said Kaufman.

“Otherwise, he would not have missed three games. We know how much Leo Messi loves to play. He would not just sit around for three games for no reason. He really wouldn’t,” she argued.

“I know, yes, the Argentina, World Cup qualifiers are coming up in April. They’re two big ones against Brazil and Uruguay. Those are big ones. But he’s not just gonna sit because he wants to play for Argentina. He’s not gonna sit all these games for no reason,” she continued.

That makes perfect sense and only time will tell whether Jamaicans will get that once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of the greatest players of all time.

Based on that, it is unlikely Messi will be coming to Jamaica or better yet, if he comes, unlikely he would play or might just make a fleeting appearance in the land of Bob Marley or Usain Bolt if he is curious.

But the island is not totally in awe of stars, the greatest sprinter of all time, Usain Bolt, walks around nonchalantly without bodyguards and is asked occasionally for a photo opportunity.

But again, they see Bolt every day, Messi on the other hand, will soon retire presumably to his South American home.